Gun carrier



March 19, 1963 H. L. BAGBY GUN CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1960 INVENTOR. HENRY L. BAGS? BVW kw ATTORNEK March 19, 1963 Filed Feb. 2, 1960 H. L. BAGBY 3,081,923

GUN CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VENT 0/17. HENRY L BAGBY United States Patent 3,081,923 GUN CARRIER Henry L. Bagby, 1351 E. 18th St., Des Moines, Iowa Filed Feb. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 6,146 3 Claims. (Ci. 224-1) This invention relates to a gun carrying device and is more particularly adapted for use by hunters for carrying a rifle or shotgun.

Hunters will frequently carry their rifle or shotgun for long periods of time and often over long distances While searching or waiting for game at which to shoot, and from experience I have found that this can become quite tiring.

Accordingly, therefore, one of the important objects contemplated by this invention is the provision of a shoulder supported gun carrier designed to support the butt end of the rifle or shotgun whereby the weight of the firearm is carried by the shoulder of the user and the barrel of the gun can be cradled in either arm.

A further object inhering herein is the provision of a gun carrier as characterized wherein the rifle or shotgun can be easily and quickly moved to firing position and fired without removing it from the carrier.

Another object of this invention is to provide a shoulder engaging strap, and a supporting case that is removably attachable to a rifle or shotgun butt and removable and slidable relative to the shoulder strap.

Further objects and the more obvious advantages of the invention will be mentioned or else appear plainly from the description which follows.

This invention consists of novel parts and combination of parts to be hereinafter described whereby the objects set forth are attained, as pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a preferred embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the shoulder pad shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective bottom view of the opposite side of the gun case shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 being worn and a gun supported thereby when not in use, and

FIG. 5 illustrates a gun in firing position while still engaged with this gun carrier.

Referring to the drawings, my gun carrier designated generally by the numeral includes a shoulder strap portion 12 and a gun carrier portion 14. The shoulder strap portion 12 comprises an elongated strap or belt 16 adjustable as to length by a buckle means 18 of any suitable type. A shoulder pad 29, substantially wider than strap 12, is slidably arranged thereon and while any type of pad may be used to ease the pull on the wearers shoulder as will later appear, I have preferably stitched a top 22 and bottom 24 pad covering together over a resilient cushion material such as sponge or foam rubber or the like 26. Spaced slits 28 and 30 in top 22 permit strap 12 to pass through pad intermediate cover 22 and cushion 26. A second strap 32, shorter than strap 12 and preferably of elastic material, depends from the pad 20 relative to the bottom side 24 and for this purpose is attached at respective ends 34 and 36 to respective opposite ends 38 and 4-0 of pad 20 as shown in FIG. 2.

The carrier 14 is in effect an elongated case substantially rectangular in cross section, but tapered so that it is widest at the bottom end 42 and progressively smaller toward the top end 44. Case 14 is defined by a closed bottom 46, spaced side members 48 and 56, a closed back 52 integral with sides 48 and 5t and an openable front 54. The top end 44 is open as shown in FIG. 1. The front 54 is shown as openable and closeable by means of a zipper 56, but it will be understood 3,081,923 Patented Mar. 19, 1963 that any suitable form of closure at this point will serve the purpose herein disclosed.

Case 14 is designed to be easily attachable to and re movable from strap 12 and to be slidable relative to such strap and for this purpose a swivel snap 58 slidable on strap 12 by means of a ring 60 is removably engageable with a ring 62 carried in a loop 64 on a strap 66 attached to case 12 near or at the bottom thereof on side 48.

In using this carrier 10, pad 29 will lay upon one shoulder of the wearer 68 (FIG. 4) with strap 12 extending diagonally across the chest and back and passing under the wearers arm, 70 on his opposite side relative to pad 20 and at a point approximately at his waist line 72 as shown. The wearers other arm 74 is passed through the loop formed by the elastic strap 32 so that such strap yieldingly embraces the armpit below pad 20. Strap 12 can be adjusted by buckle 18 to suit the convenience and size of the wearer 68 and thus may be used over heavy outer garments if required.

Case 14 is designed to conform substantially to the shape of and to fit snugly over the butt end of a rifle or shotgun 76 and for this purpose when the front 54 is opened, the butt of gun 76 can be easily placed therein. When front 54 is closed, the top 44 is sufliciently smaller than the bottom end 42 so that case 14 can neither slip off nor be pulled off of the butt for obvious reasons. Case 14 is then attached to strap 12 as described and as shown in FIG. 1 and the barrel 78 of the gun 76 can be cradled in the wearers hand or arm as shown or in either hand or arm since the means of attaching case 14 to strap 12 affords a maximum of maneuverability. 'Ihus arranged, it will be appreciated that the weight of the gun 76 is carried on the wearers shoulder whereby it becomes considerably more comfortable to handle over long periods of time.

The slidability of case 14 on strap 12 permits the gun 76 to be moved to firing position (FIG. 5) without removal from the case so that this carrier 10 in no way impedes the prompt use of the gun. The length of case 14 is such that it does not interfere with the position of the hands in firing and the detachability of case 14 from, strap 12 permits the hunter to relieve himself of the gun at times without requiring the removal of the strap 12 and pad 2%.

It is submitted that the invention shown and described is aptly suited to achieve the purposes intended and is characterized by a combination of highly useful and mutually cooperating elements that combine their respective and proportionate functions in accomplishing the objects sought to be obtained.

It will be understood that the phraseology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not for limitation and that modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of this invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit and purpose thereof. It is thus intended to cover by the claims, any modified forms of structure or mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a gun carrier, an endless strap adapted to be worn by a person so as to lay over one shoulder and extend diagonally across his back and chest to a lower point at his side and approximately at his waist line, a

slide member on said strap slidable thereon across the chest of a person between the waist line and shoulder, and a case contoured to the shape of and removably attached to the butt portion of a rifle or shotgun and re movably attached to said strap and slidable relative thereto with said slide member.

2. In a gun carrier, an endless strap adapted tobe worn by a person so as to lay over one shoulder and extend diagonally across his back and chest to a lower point at his side and approximately at his waist line, a case contoured to the shape of and removably attached to the butt portion of a rifle or shotgun and removably attached to said strap and normally disposed for carrying at said lower point, and said case also being slidable relative to said strap from the waist line position to substantially a mid chest position whereby said rifle or shotgun carried by said case can be placed in firing posi tion and fired by the person wearing said carrier without removing the rifle or shotgun therefrom.

3. In a gun carrier, an endless strap adapted to be worn by a person so as to lay over one shoulder and extend diagonally across his back and chest to a lower point at his side and approximately at his waist line, a pad slidable on said strap and adapted to lay on the shoulder of the person wearing said strap, an elastic loop forming strap attached to said pad and adapted to encircle the armpit of the wearer, a case contoured to the shape of and removably attached to the'butt portion of a rifle or shotgun and removably attached to said strap and normally disposed for carrying at said lower point, and said case also being slidable relative to said strap from the waist line position to substantially a mid chest position whereby a gun carried by said case can be placed in firing position and fired by the person wearing said carrier without removing the gun therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 635,591 Rasmussen Oct. 24, 1899 1,514,459 Hartman Nov. 4, 1924 2,651,441 R-au et a1. Sept. 8, 1953 2,884,172 Kubo Apr. 28, 1959 2,923,450 Darkenwald Feb. 2, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,924 Great Britain 1907 86,924 Norway Feb. 20, 1956 

1. IN A GUN CARRIER, AN ENDLESS STRAP ADAPTED TO BE WORN BY A PERSON SO AS TO LAY OVER ONE SHOULDER AND EXTEND DIAGONALLY ACROSS HIS BACK AND CHEST TO A LOWER POINT AT HIS SIDE AND APPROXIMATELY AT HIS WAIST LINE, A SLIDE MEMBER ON SAID STRAP SLIDABLE THEREON ACROSS THE CHEST OF A PERSON BETWEEN THE WAIST LINE AND SHOULDER, AND A CASE CONTOURED TO THE SHAPE OF AND REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO THE BUTT PORTION OF A RIFLE OR SHUTGUN AND REMOVABLY ATTACHED TO SAID STRAP AND SLIDABLE RELATIVE THERETO WITH SAID SLIDE MEMBER. 